试试看 (shì shì kàn) — to give it a try, to try something and see the outcome

Definition

试试看 (shì shì kàn) is a casual, spoken reduplication meaning 'give it a try' — softer and more tentative than a direct attempt. The trailing 看 adds a 'and see' feel, suggesting the speaker is open to the outcome.

verb
to give it a try, to try something and see the outcome

Examples

  • 试试看。
    Nǐ kě yǐ shì shì kàn zhè ge cài.
    You can try this dish.
  • 试试看，。
    Xiān shì shì kàn, bù xíng zài huàn.
    Try it first; if it doesn't work, then change.
  • 试试看。
    Tā jué dìng shì shì kàn zhè ge xīn fāng fǎ.
    He decided to try this new method.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

试试try
试shìtry试shìtry
重叠Reduplication
看kànsee

试试 conveys trying, and 看 suggests seeing the result, so the whole means to give it a try.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
式
式shì試shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 試 puts 言 beside 式, and 式 gives the sound; the simplified 试 is the form of this character.

Open 试 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
式
式shì試shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 試 puts 言 beside 式, and 式 gives the sound; the simplified 试 is the form of this character.

Open 试 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 看 puts 手 (hand) over 目 (eye), showing a hand placed above the eyes to gaze into the distance.

Open 看 →

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